Survivor Story: Making Super-Powers Out of Deficits with Comedian Mimi Hayes

C’mon, y’all know you’ve done some strange and laughable things while being brain injured. Maybe it was funny at the time, maybe it's taken years to laugh, or maybe you still can’t. Finding the humor in all the heart-(ahem, brain)-ache makes those hard days just a little easier. After Mimi Hayes suffered a brain hemorrhage from a ruptured cavernous malformation, she did just that. Taking her experiences on the road, she has made a career as a comedian. Nothing makes her feel better than having people laugh with her.  Join us for some chuckles today with Mimi Hayes, making brain hemorrhages look cool since 1992! In this episode:Mimi’s Survivor Story: brain hemorrhage due to a ruptured cavernous angioma in the cerebellumSymptoms of fatigue, loss of balance, didn’t know where she was in space, visual disturbances, migraines, couldn’t move head or eyes without vomiting Symptoms mistakenly categorized as psychological!!!Took a couple weeks to get an MRI--Mama Bear to the rescue!The bleed happened at a stressful time in Mimi’s life.  She thinks the added stress contributed to bursting her previously benign cavernous angioma (a clump of vessels that never unfurled correctly at birth) Initial treatment was at home: watch, wait, and hope for reabsorption. Mimi started losing physical function, coordination, double vision and vision loss, loss of taste, weight loss.  With the increase in symptoms, her neurosurgeon reassessed and now Mimi needed brain surgeryRecovery from brain surgery: Post-anesthesia hilarity: Sit Down Helen! ICURehab Hospital: coming to grips with changed abilities.  Aggressive therapy soon after surgery led to quick physical results.  If you didn’t get this it doesn’t mean it’s too late!Outpatient therapyBack to work in 5 months with accommodations and self regulationRecovery is nuanced.  Everybody’s recovery timeline is different.  The intensity of your injury doesn’t mean a certain timeline, i.e. “mild” injury doesn’t mean quick recovery and visa versaAfter about two years of teaching post injury, Mimi started some new creative pursuits: book writing and comedy.  Humor in tragedy, the importance of finding laughs through hard timesFinding new purpose after brain injuryTeaching after brain injury no longer felt like her purpose.  She opened herself up to new possibilities.  She hit the eject button and moved to NYC.Be open to new possibilitiesJump into the voidBook deal: I’ll be OK, It’s Just a Hole in my Head by Mimi HayesBrain Injury circuit: TV spots, comedy gigs with sets on brain injury, Brain Injury Association presentationsStep into yourself after injury: you have a new perspective, changed spirituality, changes in life.  Get into those changes. It's a great time to reinvent yourself (48:12)Being an advocate in the brain injury community helps you care that much more about doing the work, It becomes bigger than you.  You are helping others.  Being a part of the brain injury community throughout the years: A support for you and others!Brain injury is always going to be a part of your storyOwning your story and deficits showcases